Pakistan, China welcome Iran-US understanding, call for continued engagement

Pakistan and China on Tuesday welcomed the agreement reached under the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding, describing the consensus as an important step towards promoting lasting peace and stability in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) said.

Iran and the United States recently concluded a Pakistan-brokered peace deal, with both sides declaring an immediate and definitive end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

The development was welcomed by world leaders, who hailed the groundbreaking agreement to end the three-month-old conflict in the Middle East and praised Pakistan for its mediation role.

Read: Trump says Iran deal is ‘fully signed,’ adding Strait of Hormuz will be ‘fully open’ on Friday

The remarks were made during a telephone conversation between Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Politburo member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

According to a press release published by FO, the two leaders welcomed this development.

“Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic efforts and mediation efforts, which helped create conditions for lasting engagement between Iran and the United States,” the statement said.

He appreciated Pakistan’s vital contribution to promoting international peace and stability.

He added that DPM Dar appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy between Iran and the United States.

Read also: US and Iran sign ceasefire agreement, details remain unclear

He acknowledged China’s important contributions to restoring regional peace and stability, particularly President Xi Jinping’s Four-Point Proposal and the Pakistan-China Five-Point Initiative.

“Both leaders stressed the importance of implementing the agreements reached between the parties and maintaining a continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues,” the statement said.

They also highlighted the importance of the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy, energy security and international trade.

“Both sides also discussed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent successful visit to China and agreed to continue rigorous monitoring and implementation of its outcomes,” the statement added.

Dar also stressed the importance of working together on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project and further strengthening bilateral economic and investment cooperation.

“The two sides agreed to remain in close contact and continue their consultations on key bilateral and regional issues of common interest,” the statement concluded.

The war, which sparked a global energy crisis, erupted after the United States and Israel carried out a series of attacks on Iran on February 28, leading to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The peace agreement that ended the three-month conflict in the Gulf was announced early Monday by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a message on X. He said the official signing ceremony of the agreement would take place on June 19 in Switzerland.

Learn more: Pakistan receives global praise for brokering US-Iran deal

US President Donald Trump also declared an end to the war in an article on Truth Social.

Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, have actively pursued diplomatic engagement between the two sides since the start of the conflict.

The first ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran in April was also achieved thanks to Pakistan’s efforts.

Trump has repeatedly appreciated Pakistan’s mediating role during the conflict, while world leaders have also praised Islamabad for facilitating diplomatic engagement between the two sides, which ultimately led to a peace agreement.